FashionTalks

In this finale episode of FashionTalks, hosts Donna Bishop and Sarah Jay celebrate the incredible achievement of Project Runway Canada's final three designers—Charles, Curtis, and Leeland—as they each present 10-look collections. Charles crafted a love letter to his Vietnamese heritage and family, Curtis explored gender identity in historically-referential designs, and Leeland interwove his Chines...

In this penultimate episode of FashionTalks, hosts Donna Bishop and Sarah Jay dive into Project Runway Canada Episode 9, where the final three designers—Curtis, Leeland, and Charles—open their homes and studios for intimate visits as they build their 10-look finale collections. With just seven weeks and $10,000, each designer faces the ultimate test of their skills and vision. The episode takes vi...

This week on FashionTalks, hosts Donna Bishop and Sarah Jay dive into the most emotional episode yet of Project Runway Canada Season 3. Episode 8 drops all the rules for the "authenticity challenge," giving Charles, Leeland, Curtis, and Foster complete creative freedom — and the results are nothing short of spectacular. Plus, Donna and Sarah celebrate the incomparable Jeanne Beker, whose presence...

In this exciting Episode 7 recap of Project Runway Canada, hosts Donna Bishop and Sarah Jay break down the Giant Tiger challenge, where designers faced the unique task of creating couture looks inspired by budget-friendly clothing items without actually using them. With legendary Project Runway Season 4 winner Christian Siriano as guest judge, the episode highlighted important conversations about...

In this episode of FashionTalks, hosts Donna Bishop and Sarah Jay dive deep into Project Runway Canada Episode 6, where designers faced a unique challenge at Toronto's Bata Shoe Museum. Contestants had to create runway looks inspired by iconic footwear ranging from red kinky boots to Victorian lace-ups and feathered pumps. The episode took a dramatic turn with an unexpected double elimination, des...

Follow along as Donna and Sarah Jay break down Episode 5 of Project Runway Canada as the designers faced a "triple-decker" challenge: creating high-fashion looks from delicate Cashmere bathroom tissue, in just one day, while navigating a devious bait-and-switch that turned collaborative pairs into competitive duels. Donna and Sarah break down each designer's approach, the clever techniques designe...

In this Project Runway Canada recap episode, FashionTalks host Donna Bishop and co-host Sarah Jay dive deep into Episode 4’s ambitious transformational challenge — a double-duty task that asked designers to create a standout look and engineer a seamless garment transition. Donna and Sarah unpack every moment with insight, humour, and historical context. Their discussion explores how the runway bec...

In this episode of FashionTalks, Donna Bishop and Sarah Jay dive into Episode 3 of Project Runway Canada , a high-stakes avant-garde team challenge, featuring future-focused textiles developed at TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University). They highlight the design moments, runway choices, and feedback that made this episode such a compelling watch. The conversation then shifts to exclusive interviews...

In this post-show recap of Project Runway Canada Episode 2, co-hosts Donna Bishop and Sarah Jay dig into a high-pressure client challenge that felt like “the Amazing Race of fashion.” They unpack everything from the specific L’Oréal Paris brief to the very intense timelines, and what that would look like in real life when you actually have time to meet your client, and negotiate the creative visio...

FashionTalks is heading to the runway! In this special series covering the new season of Project Runway Canada, host Donna Bishop is joined by co-host Sarah Jay—fashion director, sustainability consultant, and former wardrobe stylist for the judges on Season 2—to break down each episode of the new season. In this debut recap, they dive into the symbolism of the denim “Cana...

This special FashionTalks series dives into each episode of the new season of Project Runway Canada. Donna will sit down with every eliminated designer for an in-depth exit interview, exploring their creative journey, challenges and what's next. Then Donna teams up with fashion expert Sarah Jay for a lively post-show breakdown—recapping runway wins, design drama, and the trends that truly popped....

In part two of discussing the film, Dawn Dusk, Donna sits down with designer Chelli Look to explore the intimate relationship between fashion, emotion, and identity. In this moving conversation, Chelli traces her earliest style memories, the power of accessories, and fashion generally. She opens up about Dawn Dusk, the documentary that followed her craft and her healing, and explains how forgivene...

In this episode of  FashionTalks , host Donna Bishop welcomes in the first part of a two part series, filmmakers Blue and Jason, the creative duo behind the award-winning documentary  Dawn Dusk . Their film follows Chicago-based leather artisan Chelli Look, whose minimalist, slow-fashion designs became a vessel for processing profound personal loss. As Blue and Jason share, what began as...

In this episode, Donna sits down with makeup artist and drag visionary Viktor Peters (a.k.a. Verushka) to explore the transformative power of beauty, fashion, and self-expression. From growing up in a modern Mennonite community in Chihuahua, Mexico to studying music at Canadian Mennonite University and finding his voice in Winnipeg and Toronto, Viktor traces his path through MAC Cosmetics, the dis...

Beauty isn’t vanity—it’s self-respect. In this episode, Donna sits down with Brittany Gray, makeup artist and founder of Fancy Face; a beauty service and retail boutique and product line, to explore the transformative power of makeup and the business behind a leading Canadian beauty brand. Brittany shares how performing in  Chicago  at age 15 and watching Catherine Zeta-Jo...

Welcome to the latest episode of FashionTalks! In this episode host Donna Bishop speaks with designer and founder of Mayana, Nadine Woods. Nadine shares many personal details about her unconventional fashion journey. How the birth of her child influenced her business The surprising power of lingerie How she launched her brand with no formal design education The importance of her Caribbean heritage...

In the latest episode of FashionTalks host Donna Bishop speaks with award winning fashion designer Christopher Bates. Donna and Christopher chat about: Christopher's foray into fashion (his second career) The small moments of inspiration and big swings that built his brand How an iconic design element brought people together for life The balancing act of being an entrepreneur and a designer Donna...

In this latest episode of FashionTalks host Donna Bishop talks with Myriam Maguire, President and Lead Designer of the award winning brand Maguire (founded in 2017). While the 2024 CAFA winner of Accessories Designer of the Year has focused on footwear, it is ever expanding its offerings into a wider range of accessories. Donna and Myriam dive into: her story of launching the brand and what sparke...

On this episode of FashionTalks host Donna Bishop chats with designer Alan Anderson. Alan has been designing his eponymous line since 1997. His fashion history (and British Royals) knowledge is deep and vast. Alan and Donna discuss: how he began his line (an inspiration for anyone) the history and importance of costume jewelry the fascinating story of where he sources the vintage crystals he used...

Hello and welcome to season five of FashionTalks. I am your host, Donna Bishop. I know it has been a minute, so thank you so much for joining me today. I'm so glad you're here. I can think of no better guest than to launch this season than Jeanne Beker . Now, Jeannie's been on the podcast before. I'll link it down below. And we talked then about her 27 years as host of fashion television, which tr...

FashionTalks is back for season 5! Join host Donna Bishop as she chats with industry leaders and hot emerging talent about key insights they have learned, how they are got to where they are in life and career, and their love affair with clothes

Presented with the CAFA Changemaker Award in 2023, Amber-Dawn Bear Robe  is a curator, art historian and Fashion Show Program Director for the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts . Born in Alberta, Canada, and a member of the Siksika Nation, Bear Robe has spent her career working and lecturing in Native art institutions. Through her work and advocacy, she has played a pivotal role in the...

Vanja Vasic founded Fashion Art Toronto (intentionally called FAT) in 2005 making it the longest running fashion event in Toronto (Canada's largest city). In this episode Vanja and Donna discuss: Vanja's history and how her artistic, rebellious parents helped shape her creative spirit the tie between fashion and art the "naughty" origins of Fashion Art Toronto key milestones throughout the past 18...

John Fluevog has been designing shoes since the 1970s. His unmistakeable footwear has graced not just runway shows around the world, but have been worn by countless celebrities including Madonna, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. George Clinton, known as Parliament known as Funkadelic, came to prominence in the 60s, revolutionized R&B music in the 70s and continues to make music with a host of artists in...

David Cash, founder of Cash Labs, has been identified by Vogue Magazine as the leading force in bringing web3 to market. David, the 2023 CAFA Innovation Award winner, is the founder of Metaverse Fashion Week and has worked with dozens of global brands from Farfetch to Estée Lauder to Verizon to the NBA. In this episode David and host Donna Bishop discuss: David's journey to founding Cash Labs The...